Released April 30, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Special Note

Annual March Survey prices paid data will no longer be published in the April
Agricultural Prices Report.
See
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Prices/updateApr2015.p
df for details.
Historic Prices Received and Paid Index tables will only be published in
January. The current and revised indexes will continue to be posted to Quick
Stats each month.

March Farm Prices Received Index Increased 3 Points

The March Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 102, based on
2011=100, increased 3 points (3.0 percent) from February. At 86, the March
Crop Production Index is up 1 point (1.2 percent). At 117, the Livestock
Production Index increased 3 points (2.6 percent). Producers received higher
prices for broilers, eggs, cattle, and oranges but lower prices for milk,
wheat, soybeans, and apples. In addition to prices, the indexes are impacted
by the five-year average monthly mix of commodities producers market.
Increased monthly movement of cattle, strawberries, calves, and milk offset
the decreased marketing of cotton, soybeans, and hay.

The Prices Received Index is down 9 points (8.1 percent) from March 2014. The
Food Commodities Index, at 110, increased 3 points (2.8 percent) from the
previous month but decreased 12 points (9.8 percent) from March 2014.

March Prices Paid Index up 1 Point

The March Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes,
and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW), at 110 (2011=100), is up 1 point (0.9 percent)
from February but is unchanged from March 2014. Higher prices in March for
feeder cattle, hay & forages, gasoline, and field crop seeds more than offset
lower prices for complete feeds, nitrogen, other services, and supplements.

Prices Received by Farmers……………………………………………………………………… 4
Prices Received Indexes as a Percent of 2011 Base – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………. 5
Prices Received Indexes as a Percent of 1910-1914 Base – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…….. 5
Prices Received Indexes as a percent of 2011 Base by Month for Selected Groups – United States:
2014 and 2015………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Prices Paid Indexes as a percent of 2011 Base by Month for Selected Groups – United States: 2014 and 2015.. 6
Received and Paid Indexes, Annual Average – United States: 2011=100 Chart……………………………. 6
Crop Farm Received and Paid Indexes, All Items by Quarter –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 7
Livestock Farm Received and Paid Indexes All Items by Quarter –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 7
Received Indexes by Month, Livestock Product, All Product, and All Crop –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 8
Received Indexes by Month, Food Grain, Feed Grain, and Oilseed –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 8
Received Indexes by Month, Fruit & Tree Nut and Commercial Vegetable –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 9
Received Indexes by Month, Meat Animal, Dairy Product, and Poultry & Egg –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 9
Prices Received for Field Crops and Fruits – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………….. 10
Prices Received for Vegetables and Livestock – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………… 11
Prices Received for Corn by Month – United States Chart……………………………………………. 12
Prices Received for Wheat by Month – United States Chart…………………………………………… 12
Prices Received for Upland Cotton by Month – United States Chart……………………………………. 13
Prices Received for Soybeans by Month – United States Chart………………………………………… 13
Prices Received for Cattle by Month – United States Chart………………………………………….. 14
Prices Received for Milk by Month – United States Chart……………………………………………. 14
Prices Received for Hogs by Month – United States Chart……………………………………………. 15
Prices Received for Poultry by Month – United States Chart…………………………………………. 15
Prices Received for All Wheat, Corn, and Soybeans by Month – United States: 2015 with Comparisons………. 16
Prices Received for Beef Cattle and All Hogs by Month – United States: 2015 with Comparisons…………… 16
Prices Received for All Wheat – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………………. 17
Prices Received for Winter Wheat – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………. 17
Prices Received for Durum Wheat – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………….. 18
Prices Received for Spring Wheat – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………. 18
Prices Received for All Barley – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………… 19
Prices Received for Malting Barley – States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………………………….. 19
Prices Received for Feed Barley – States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………………….. 19
Prices Received for Corn – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………… 20
Prices Received for Soybeans – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………….. 20
Prices Received for Oats – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………… 21
Prices Received for Sorghum Grain – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………… 21
Prices Received for Dry Beans – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………………. 22
Prices Received for Peanuts (in shell) – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………. 22
Prices Received for Sunflower – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………………. 23
Prices Received for Canola – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………. 23
Prices Received for Flaxseed – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………….. 23
Prices Received for Upland Cotton and Cottonseed – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons… 24
Prices Received and Farm Marketings for Upland Cotton and Rice – United States: March 2015
with Comparisons……………………………………………………………………………. 24
Prices Received for Hay by Type – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………….. 25
Prices Received for Apples – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………. 25
Prices Received for Citrus Fruits by Utilization – States and United States: March 2014……………….. 26
Prices Received for Citrus Fruits by Utilization – States and United States: February 2015…………….. 27
Prices Received for Citrus Fruits by Utilization – States and United States: March 2015……………….. 28
Prices Received for Potatoes – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………….. 29
Prices Received for All Milk – States and United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………….. 30
Prices Received for Milk Cows – States and United States: April 2015 with Comparisons…………………. 31
Commodity Parity Prices and Price as Percent of Parity Price – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons.. 32
Commodity Parity Prices – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………………………… 33
Marketing Year for Specified Commodities…………………………………………………………. 35
Prices Received for Broilers by Month – United States: 2009-2014……………………………………. 35
Prices Received for Turkeys by Month – United States: 2009-2014…………………………………….. 35
Prices Received for All Eggs by Month – United States: 2009-2014……………………………………. 36
Prices Received for Market Eggs by Month – United States: 2009-2014…………………………………. 36
Prices Received for All Milk Sold at Plants by Month – States and United States: 2013…………………. 37
Prices Received for All Milk Sold at Plants by Month – States and United States: 2014…………………. 38
Prices Received for All Milk Sold at Plants, Monthly Fat Test – States and United States: 2013…………. 39
Prices Received for All Milk Sold at Plants, Monthly Fat Test – States and United States: 2014…………. 40
Adjustment for Seasonal Variation – All Eggs and All Milk………………………………………….. 41
Prices Received for All Eggs Adjusted for Seasonal Variation by Month – United States: 2011-2014……….. 41
Prices Received for All Eggs as a Percentage of Parity Price by Month – United States: 2011-2014……….. 41
Prices Received for All Eggs Adjustment Factors by Month – United States: 2011-2014…………………… 41
Prices Received for All Milk Adjusted for Seasonal Variation by Month – United States: 2011-2014……….. 42
Prices Received for All Milk as a Percentage of Parity Price by Month – United States: 2011-2014……….. 42
Prices Received for All Milk Adjustment Factors by Month – United States: 2011-2014…………………… 42
Reliability of Prices Received Estimates…………………………………………………………. 43
Prices Paid by Farmers…………………………………………………………………………. 44
Prices Paid Indexes and Related Parity Ratios – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons…………….. 45
Prices Paid Indexes and Annual Weights for Input Components and Sub-components – United States:
March 2015 with Comparisons………………………………………………………………….. 46
Paid Indexes by Month, All Items and Production Items –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 47
Paid Indexes, Annual Averages, Production Items, Interest, Taxes, and Wages –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 47
Paid Indexes by Farm Type, All Items – United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………… 48
Paid Indexes by Origin, All Production Items – United States: 2011=100 Chart…………………………. 48
Paid Indexes by Non-Farm Sector, Supplies & Repairs, Fertilizer, Machinery, and Fuel –
United States: 2011=100 Chart………………………………………………………………… 49
Paid Indexes by Month, Feed and Replacement Livestock – United States: 2011=100 Chart…………………. 49
Feed Price Ratios – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……………………………………… 50
Prices Received Used to Calculate Feed Price Ratios – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons……….. 50
Prices Paid for Feeder Livestock – United States: March 2015 with Comparisons………………………… 50
Reliability of Prices Paid Estimates…………………………………………………………….. 51
Information Contacts…………………………………………………………………………… 52

March Prices Received by Farmers

The March Prices Received Index for agricultural production is 102 percent of
its 2011 base, up 3.0 percent from the February index but 8.1 percent below
the March 2014 index.

Crop Production: The March index, at 86, increased 1.2 percent from February
but is 9.5 percent below March 2014. Index increases for vegetable & melon,
fruit & tree nut, and other crop production more than offset the index
decrease for food grain production.

Feed grain: The March index, at 64, is unchanged from last month but is
16 percent below a year ago. The corn price, at $3.81 per bushel, is up
2 cents from last month but is down 71 cents from March 2014. At
$8.00 per cwt, sorghum grain is 14 cents above February but 24 cents
below March a year earlier.

Food grain: At 82, the index for March is 2.4 percent lower than the
previous month and 17 percent below a year earlier. The March price for
all wheat, at $5.70 per bushel, is down 19 cents from February and is
$1.04 below March 2014.

Oilseed: At 79, the index for March is unchanged from February but is
27 percent lower than March 2014. The soybean price, at $9.84 per
bushel, decreased 8 cents from February and is $3.86 below March a year
earlier.

Fruit and tree nut: The March index, at 128, is up 3.2 percent from
February and 2.4 percent higher than a year earlier. The price increase
during March for oranges more than offset the price decrease for
apples.

Vegetable and melon: At 95, the index for March is up 9.2 percent from
the previous month but is down 2.1 percent from March 2014. Price
increases during March for lettuce and broccoli more than offset price
declines for tomatoes and sweet corn.

Other crop: The March index, at 83, is up 3.8 percent from the previous
month but is 11 percent below March 2014. The all hay price, at
$160 per ton, is up $5.00 from February but is $10.00 lower than
March 2014. At 59.9 cents per pound, the price for upland cotton is up
2.5 cents from February but is 21.8 cents below March 2014.

Livestock Production: The index for March, at 117, is 2.6 percent above the
previous month but is down 8.6 percent from March a year earlier. Compared
with a year ago, prices are higher for cattle, calves, and market eggs.
Prices for milk, hogs, and broilers are down from a year earlier. Turkey
prices are unchanged.

Meat animal: At 127, the March index is up 1.6 percent from the
previous month but is 0.8 percent lower than a year earlier. At $50.30
per cwt, the March hog price is down 10 cents from February and $31.60
lower than a year earlier. The March beef cattle price of $160 per cwt
is up $1.00 from the previous month and $12.00 higher than March 2014.

Dairy: The index for March, at 83, is down 1.2 percent from the
previous month and 34 percent lower than March a year earlier. The
March all milk price of $16.60 per cwt is down 20 cents from February
and $8.50 from March 2014.

Poultry and egg: At 133, the March index is up 12 percent from February
but is 0.7 percent below 2014. The March market egg price, at $1.41 per
dozen, increased 29.0 cents from February and is 36.0 cents above
March 2014. The March broiler price, at 59.0 cents per pound, is up
5.0 cents from February but is 6.0 cents below a year earlier. At
68.3 cents per pound, the March turkey price is up 1.4 cents from the
previous month but is unchanged from 2014.

Prices Received for Canola – States and United States: March 2015
with Comparisons
——————————————————————————–
State : March 2014 : February 2015 : March 2015
——————————————————————————–
: dollars per cwt
:
Minnesota ……….: (D) (S) (S)
North Dakota …….: 18.40 17.20 16.60
:
United States ……: 18.40 17.20 16.60
——————————————————————————–
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(S) Insufficient number of reports to establish an estimate.

Prices Received for Flaxseed – States and United States: March 2015
with Comparisons
——————————————————————————–
State : March 2014 : February 2015 : March 2015
——————————————————————————–
: dollars per bushel
:
North Dakota …….: 13.50 11.50 11.50
:
United States ……: 13.50 11.50 11.50
——————————————————————————–

Base prices used in calculating parity prices are averages of prices received
by farmers for ten years; therefore, any seasonal variation is largely
averaged out. To facilitate comparisons with parity prices, monthly prices
for All Eggs and All Milk are adjusted for seasonal variation. The seasonally
adjusted price is calculated by dividing the monthly price by the adjustment
factor.

Definition: Prices received represent sales from producers to first buyers.
They include all grades and qualities. The average commodity price from the
survey multiplied by the total quantity marketed theoretically should give
the total cash receipts for the commodity.

Survey procedures: Primary sales data used to determine grain prices were
obtained from probability samples of about 1900 mills and elevators. These
procedures ensure that virtually all grain moving into commercial channels
has a chance of being included in the survey. Generally, States surveyed
account for 90 percent or more of total United States production. Livestock
prices are obtained from packers, stockyards, auctions, dealers, and market
check data from AMS-USDA, private marketing organizations, and state
commodity groups and agencies. Inter-farm sales of grain and livestock are
not included since they represent very small percentages of the total sales.
Grain marketed for seed is also excluded. Fruit and vegetable prices are
obtained from sample surveys and market check data from AMS-USDA, private
marketing organizations, state agencies, and universities.

Summary and estimation procedures: Survey quantities sold are expanded by
strata to state levels and used to weight average strata prices to a state
average. State prices are then weighted to a United States price based on
expanded sales. Recommendations are prepared by the Regional Field Offices
and reviewed by the Agricultural Statistics Board in Washington, D.C. State
recommendations are reviewed for reasonableness with survey data, other
States, and recent historic estimates.

Revisions: In general, revisions are made during annual commodity market year
estimation time, following five-year Census revisions, or when later
information is received. Revisions are published in monthly issues of
Agricultural Prices.

Reliability: United States price estimates based on probability surveys
generally have a sampling error of less than one percent for the major
commodities such as corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, and rice. Current methods
of summarization for non-probability commodities are not designed directly to
calculate sampling errors. However, analytical measures approximate the
United States relative sampling errors at around five percent. Any non-
sampling errors are attributed to such things as the inability to obtain
correct information, differences in interpreting questions or definitions,
mistakes in coding or processing the data, etc. Efforts are made at each step
in the survey process to minimize these non-sampling errors.

After the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) 2009
program review which included changes in farm production practices, plans were
implement to make necessary program improvements in the agricultural price
program. The index group structure for prices received was modified to maintain
a more universal structure and consistency with the required 1910-1914 series.
Modifications implemented January 2014 include the following:
• Update the current 1990-1992 base reference period to 2011,
• Link the 1910-1914 series to the updated base reference period, 2011,
• Create index groups used universally by researchers, data users, and
policymakers,
• Re-classify agricultural commodities into the index groups,
• Expand the commodity coverage for vegetable, melon, non-citrus, and
tree nuts,
• Update monthly market weights, and
• Adjust (normalization) current five year moving average cash receipts
and farm input cost weights.
Modifications implemented January 2015 include the following:
• Preliminary prices discontinued
• Annual index to replace the annual average index

March Prices Paid by Farmers

The March Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes,
and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW), at 110 (2011=100), is up 0.9 percent from
February but is unchanged from March 2014.

Production index: The March index, at 111, is unchanged from last month but
is 0.9 percent lower than last year. Higher prices for feeder cattle, hay &
forages, gasoline, and field crop seeds offset lower prices in March for
complete feeds, nitrogen, other services, and supplements.

Feed: The March index, at 108, decreased 0.9 percent from February and
is 6.9 percent below last March. Since February, lower prices for
complete feeds, supplements, and concentrates more than offset higher
prices for hay & forages and feed grains.

Livestock and poultry: The March index, at 156, increased 2.6 percent
from last month and is 16 percent above last year. Since February,
higher prices for feeder cattle more than offset lower prices for
feeder pigs. The March feeder cattle price, at $227.00 per cwt, is up
$8.00 per cwt from the February price. March feeder pigs averaged
$172.00 per cwt, down $3.00 per cwt from February.

Fertilizer: The March index, at 90, is unchanged from February and is
7.2 percent below March a year ago. Since February, higher prices for
mixed fertilizer and potash & phosphate offset lower prices for
nitrogen.

Chemicals: The March index, at 106, is unchanged from February but is
down 3.6 percent from last March. Compared with last month, higher
prices for fungicides/other offset lower prices for insecticides.

Fuels: The March index, at 69, is up 1.5 percent from a month earlier
but is down 30 percent from March 2014. Compared with last month,
prices are higher for gasoline and diesel but lower for LP gas.

Machinery: The March index, at 115, is unchanged from February but is
3.6 percent above last March. Compared with last month, prices are
slightly higher for self-propelled and other machinery.

Consumer price index: The February 2015 Consumer Price Index, as issued by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for all urban consumers (CPI-U) increased
0.4 percent before seasonal adjustment to a level of 234.7722 (1982-
1984=100). The January index is 233.707. For the 12 month period ending in
February, the overall index decreased 0.4 percent.

Definition: Prices paid by farmers represent the average costs of inputs
purchased by farmers and ranchers to produce agricultural commodities.
Conceptually, the average price when multiplied by quantity purchased should
equal total producer expenditures for the item.

Survey procedures: The prices paid data are obtained from establishments that
sell goods and services to farmers and ranchers. Annually, about 8,500 firms
are randomly selected from lists by type of item sold with an average
response rate in the range of 75-80 percent. Firms are asked to report the
price for the specified item “most commonly bought by farmers” or that was
the “volume seller”. Approximately 135 items are surveyed each March to
represent all production input items purchased. The survey reference period
for most items is the five business days centered at the 15th of the month.
Separate prices paid surveys are conducted for agricultural chemicals, fuels,
feed, fertilizer, machinery, and seed.

Summary and estimation procedures: The annual March Prices Paid Survey is
summarized as a non-probability survey. Average prices reported are
aggregated to the region and United States level using weights available from
expenditure data and other administrative sources. Price recommendations are
prepared by the Regional Field Offices and Headquarters for review by the
Agricultural Statistics Board in Washington, D.C. Also, the change in price
level for individual items surveyed are combined to the regional and United
States levels, and are published as prices paid indexes referenced to a
specific base period. Prices paid indexes for new autos and trucks, building
materials, farm supplies, motor supplies, and marketing containers are
updated based on price changes measured in selected Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS) indexes.

Revisions: Any revisions are published in the monthly and in annual issues of
Agricultural Prices. The basis for revision must be supported by additional
data that directly affect the level of the estimate. More revisions are
likely for March when separate prices paid surveys are conducted, in lieu of
BLS indexes, by the USDA to measure price change.

Reliability: Current methods of summarization for the March data are not
designed directly to calculate sampling errors. However, analytical measures
approximate the United States relative sampling errors for major items around
10 percent. Any non-sampling errors are attributed to such things as the
inability to obtain correct information, differences in interpreting
questions or definitions, mistakes in coding or processing the data, etc.
Efforts are made at each step in the survey process to minimize these non-
sampling errors.

Program change: Effective January 2014, the National Agricultural Statistics
Service modified the five-year moving weights and updated the base reference
period.

As of January 2014, the 1990-1992 base reference period is updated to 2011.
Five-year moving average weights are adjusted (normalized) to minimize the
effects of price changes. The 1910-1914=100 price indexes, required by
statute for computing parity prices, were linked forward based on the changes
in the new 2011=100 indexes. The new indexes were constructed by multiplying
the ratios of the current prices to the base period prices by the moving
average weights.

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following
ways:

All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web
site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive
reports by Email,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports
you would like to receive.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:[email protected]

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